The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-16
WHITE HOUSE PLAN rs.
Mrs. Cleveland stroIling Among the
Additions TO tho Conservatory.

Among the favoritc pastimes OF the
young wife of the president during her
hours OF leisure from the demands of
her social duties is visit to the con-
servatories of the executive mansion.
sometimes alone and again with some
calling lady friend. to enjoy the select
ed beauties of plant life of the luxuri-
Gus and more ginial climes of the
warmer zones. Since their internal
reconstruction and renovation last sum-
mcr. writes Washington correspond ent
to The Philadelphia Times, the conserv-
a,ories under the intelligent care 1.-THE
experimenting florist. are amongst the
most attractive features of the execu-
tive mansion. The main conservatory,
which is entered from the promenade
corridor and the state dining-room, is
l65 feet long and forty-eight feet wide.
with sides and lofty double pitch roof
Of glass. At the further end is a wing
sixty feet long by thirty-two feet wide.
A promenade four feet wide and nearly
five hundred feet in length, paved with
artificial stone. extends around the
Conservatives between the slate bench
rs, upon which rest in pots the rarest
plants. representing almost every vari-
ETY. of size form and color of foliage
and flower, and affords the conven ence
Of delightful and pleasing stroll
among the charming flora Of the lat
tudes near the equator.
The arrangement of the plants is
with reference to variety of foliage and
colors. AS the towering plants are
Just coming into bloom the effect is
very fine, being suggestive of the
voiuptuous vegetation OF the tropics.
The ladies of the executive household
find their visits particularly interesting
ut this time. The collection is almost
exclusively for decorative purposes. 1t
embraces palms. crotons, dracenas, en-
thuriums, a2aleas, carnations, ] lies,
camellias, roses, and long list of the
other multitudinous varieties of plants
attractive on account of their foliage or
valuable for cut flowers. The plants
number about fifty thousand. In the
collection are many varieties of value
for the historic association or rarity.
The finest specimen of the cyca revoluta
or sage palm. the largest in the United
States, was brought from the West
Indies on one OF the clippers of a
wealthy Baltimore ship-ewner, and pre-
scnted 10 Gen. Washington, who placed
il in his conservatory ut Mount Vernon.
After his death il passed into other
hands, and when sold. about thirty
years ago, was purchased for the eXecu-
live mansion. P6eroA are also fine
specimens of the, Bird snest fern of
Australia, one hundred varieties of
lheamaryllis. many now in bloom,
several of the antherium grandc, and
the beautiful phoine-cophorum, or
seckelleranum. Il variety of palm.
The latest novelty is the enthurium
ventricolum. new plant reared from
seed found secreted among the roots
Of an ORCHID brought from Brazil.
The seed developed into large plant,
with slender pointed leaves three feet
long. The flower is large and of n
,reamy-white hue, spotted and tinted
" til maroon inside. and is us fragrant
as the magnolia grandiliora. 1t buds
at the base OF each one of the many
leaves which form sort of crown.
There is also cyca from the Sand
witch islands. sent as a present by Mrs.
Comfy when her husband was minister
resident at the court of that insular
kingdom in the sol,tudes Of the Pac iic.
The acacia bubexence in bloom is also
very beautiful. during the drawing
rooms of Mrs. Cleveland and the levees
of the president the conservator cs are
thrown o.. On 10 the visiting public, aud
are greatly enjoyed by the ladies. The
most interesting feature Of the collcc-
ton are the orchids or air plants.
Their delicate flowers and tints usually
call forth 'rapturous admiration. The
collection of orchids Is not the largest
nor the finest, that rank being held by
the collection of Mr.. Corning, of Al
bany, the valne of which isput down
at $50, 900. A greenhouse has been
devoted TO the propagation and culture
Of these rare and curious representa-
lives of the plant kingdom. Every
season therefore finds new acquisitions
to the white house possessions in that
branch. and which some day will take
a leading place.
The florist of the executive mansion.
who has brought the conservatories up
to their present thrifty condition, is
Henry Pflster, Swiss. who learned
his art among flowers and plants under
Heusserman. the superintendent of the
conscrvaiories and gardens of Rech-
berg, belonging TO the palace of the
opulent Banker Schulteness. of Zurich.
lie followed his art in Germany, France
and England. and came 10 the United
States in 1872. and became florist on